Chapter 952: Chapter 9: Friends from Afar

November 21, Ante Forward Command Headquarters, 87 kilometers from the center of Plowsonia City.

In front of the headquarters, just as Wang Zhong was about to climb into a small jeep, Pavlov grabbed him.

“No, no, you’re coming with me in the armored command vehicle to cross the river! I have documents for you to approve on the way!”

Wang Zhong: “Can’t we wait until we arrive at the new headquarters?”

“These are extremely critical documents and require immediate approval!” Pavlov said decisively. “Get in the armored command vehicle!”

Wang Zhong: “You’re just afraid I’ll head to the frontlines, aren’t you?”

“Exactly! From now on, you must report to me before you board any vehicle!”

“That’s unreasonable, don’t you think?” Wang Zhong pointed at the marshal star on his shoulder. “I’m a marshal, and now you’re saying I have to report to you, a general, before riding any form of transportation?”

Pavlov: “I have an imperial decree from His Majesty the Tsar; it’s her command!”

“That command is obviously one you pushed her to issue!”

Pavlov: “In any case, you’ll obediently ride the armored command vehicle. Otherwise, I’ll object to the headquarters moving forward so prematurely.”

“Our level of command shouldn’t be advancing so far forward anyway. If we keep moving up, it’ll push the headquarters of all the Front Armies forward continuously, potentially leading to more high-ranking officer casualties.”

Wang Zhong was now the Ante Army Commander, and his headquarters was essentially the brain for all Ante Troops on the Eastern Front. Truthfully, placing such a high-level headquarters just thirty kilometers from the frontlines did seem somewhat reckless.

But Wang Zhong had chosen this position to conveniently slip to the front whenever needed–though he officially claimed it was for managing contingencies efficiently.

Unable to argue further, Wang Zhong stepped down from the jeep and told the newly assigned deputy officer replacing Vasily on psychological warfare duty: “Stay in the jeep and have it follow behind the headquarters’ armored command vehicle.”

“Yes, sir.” The new deputy officer saluted respectfully.

Pavlov, still uneasy, grabbed Wang Zhong and dragged him into the armored command vehicle.

The command vehicle started quickly. Wang Zhong seated himself at the desk inside and asked, “Show me the documents you need me to review.”

Pavlov actually handed him a stack of files.

Wang Zhong had no choice but to start with the first one.

This was a summary of the recent infiltration and psychological warfare results.

Wang Zhong: “A combat summary… Is there even a need for a summary? Isn’t the headquarters’ forward movement the clearest indicator of success?”

“Do you want future war histories to say only, ‘Our headquarters’ forward movement was the best summary’?”

Wang Zhong begrudgingly began flipping through the report.

Since the start of the infiltration and psychological warfare operations, the Ante Army had reaped significant success, gradually eating away at much of Prosen’s territory. Their forces had advanced to the outskirts of the satellite cities surrounding Plowsonia.

Contrary to earlier predictions about diminishing psychological warfare effectiveness, the Prosen Army seemed increasingly shaken. Apart from the Asgard Knights Order, most of their troops crumbled at the first blow.

The Asgard Knights Order, however, resisted stubbornly, as expected.

But even they showed signs of severe demoralization when facing “Rocossov.”

Unfortunately, Vasily, worried about exposing the “Rocossov” ruse to Prosen, refrained from pushing “Rocossov” into a direct confrontation with the Asgard Knights Order’s defensive zones.

Half a month into the operation, three areas defended by the Asgard Knights Order were already encircled and isolated, with approximately three regiments of knights trapped.

As the Ante Army marched toward Plowsonia, instances of encircled Asgard Knight units were expected to multiply.

… Wang Zhong patiently finished reading the report and signed his name at the end.

Pavlov: “When was the last time you read a frontline battle report this carefully?”

Wang Zhong: “That’s called trust in your abilities. And besides, I graduated at the bottom of my class–I wouldn’t want to interfere with the work of my highly competent subordinates.”

Pavlov: “Oh, spare me.”

Wang Zhong picked up the second report–might as well do something instead of idling.

But upon seeing the title, he paused.

“Preparatory status for war against the Empire of Fusang.”

Seeing this, Pavlov explained: “Apparently, a delegation from Ceres arrived in Yeburg last night. They’re offering us intelligence, ground guides, and a series of other forms of support.”

Wang Zhong: “Oh? Why was I unaware of this?”

“You were busy flying your little plane to the front to scout.” Pavlov paused, then added, “By the way, the Ceres emissary hinted a few days ago that they’re willing to send troops to join the landings on the Empire of Fusang’s home soil.”

Wang Zhong: “Show me the latest reports from Ceres.”

As if anticipating this, Pavlov pulled out a document and tossed it to Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong: “Is this one not requiring my approval?”

“No, because it’s a battle synopsis for an unrelated war zone. It’ll be filed under intelligence archives, not needing a military chief’s signature.”

Wang Zhong opened the file. The first page showed a map illustrating occupied and liberated zones.

“It looks like much of the area near the capital of Ceres is under control.”

“Those are guerrilla zones. The Empire of Fusang has lost all areas outside cities near the capital. Though they’ve tried building bunkers and defensive lines supported by railways, they’ve proven mostly ineffective.”

“According to the intel we’ve pieced together, even the Fusang Empire’s expatriates and merchants in those regions are paying taxes to the guerrilla forces. You don’t seem surprised at all?”

Wang Zhong thought to himself: of course not–I knew all this before I crossed over. I even knew that the New Fourth Army and Eighth Route Army managed to sell anti-Japanese war bonds to the puppet army back then.